Increase Campus Safety and Security

By Carlos Gonzalez

October 1st, 2016

It’s game day and the campus is bustling with excitement. Students are hurrying
to class, bicyclists are speeding down the
pathway and a large group of marching-band
members are heading towards the stadium.

This all-too-familiar scene illustrates a huge
threat to campus safety and security; how can
a campus safely integrate pedestrians, bicycles,
wheelchairs and vehicles? Events in the past five
years show that there are numerous records of
crashes involving distracted drivers, vehicle intrusions
into bike lanes and pedestrians struck,
injured or killed by impaired drivers. More
worrisome are the many cases involving the
deliberate use of a vehicle to damage property
or harm students and faculty.

There are many methods and products that
can be effective in preventing vehicles from
entering into protected areas on campus. One of
the most common and effective solutions is the
use of bollards. While barriers, gates and landscape
features can also be used for protective
measures, they often interfere with the flow of
pedestrian traffic and can be difficult to navigate
around, especially for bicyclists and handicapped
individuals. Bollards however, are easily navigated
around and do not hinder the movement
of pedestrians, bicyclists or wheelchairs.

Bollards are offered in a wide range of
styles, dimensions and colors. Furthermore,
they can be installed with a variety of features.
Lighted bollards illuminate pedestrian areas
and help distinguish walkways from roads and
vehicle areas. Retractable and removable bollards
allow for emergency vehicle access. Fixed
bollards provide a quick and cost-effective
solution for protecting pedestrian areas.

Installing bollards throughout your campus
not only creates a safe and secure environment for
students and faculty, but also protects vulnerable
buildings and equipment from potentially
devastating damage.

This article originally appeared in the October 2016 issue of College Planning & Management.

About the Author

Carlos Gonzalez is bollards product manager for Calpipe Security Bollards (www.calpipebollards.com). He can be reached at 877/283-8518.